[Study on anterior-pituitary function during pregnancy and puerperium by radioimmunoassay of human FSH-subunits (author's transl)].
In order to observe the anterior pituitary function of pregnant women in terms of FSH secretion, specific and sensitive radioimmunoassays for human FSH-alpha and -beta subunits were utilized for this study. Blood levels of hFSH-alpha during pregnancy increase acutely and the values of the subunits are as follows: 428.0 +/- 92.64 ng/ml (mean +/- SE., 5-10 weeks of gestation), 962.8 +/- 132.5 ng/ml (11-20 weeks), 1889.0 +/- 137.60 ng/ml (21-30 weeks), 2959 +/- 323.40 ng/ml (31-40 weeks). After child delivery, serum levels of hFSH-alpha decreased to 22.92 ng/ml. In contrast, blood levels of hFSH-beta were not altered significantly through gestation. hFSH-beta subunits: 1.97 +/- 0.74 ng/ml (5-10 weeks of gestation), 2.66 +/- 0.52 ng/ml (11-20 weeks), 2.27 +/- 0.52 ng/ml (21-30 weeks), 2.07 +/- 0.37 ng/ml (31-40 weeks), respectively.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone